Euonymus plant named ‘Goldbolwi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Euonymus  plant named ‘Goldbolwi’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely basally branching growth habit; and distinct yellow and green variegated leaves.

Botanical designation: Euonymus japonicus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Goldbolwi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Euonymusplant, botanically known as Euonymus japonicus, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Goldbolwi’.

The new Euonymus is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of theEuonymus japonicus cultivar China Gold, not patented. The new Euonymuswas discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlled environmentin Putten, The Netherlands in 1996. The new Euonymus was selected on thebasis of its unique leaf coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings since January, 1998in Putten, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Euonymus are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Goldbolwi have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Goldbolwi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Goldbolwi’ as a new and distinct Euonymuscultivar:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely basally branching growth habit.    -   3. Distinct yellow and green variegated leaves.

Plants of the new Euonymus are most similar to plants of the parent, thecultivar China Gold. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Putten,The Netherlands, plants of the new Euonymus differed from plants of thecultivar China Gold in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euonymus grew slower than plants of the        cultivar China Gold.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Euonymus had larger areas of        yellow-coloration than leaves of plants of the cultivar China        Gold.

Plants of the new Euonymus can be compared to plants of the Euonymuscultivar Golden Maiden, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Putten, The Netherlands, plants of the new Euonymusdiffered from plants of the cultivar Golden Maiden in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euonymus were larger than plants of the        cultivar Golden Maiden.    -   2. Plants of the new Euonymus had shorter internodes than plants        of the cultivar Golden Maiden.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Euonymus had larger areas of        yellow-coloration than leaves of plants of the cultivar Golden        Maiden.

Plants of the new Euonymus can also be compared to plants of theEuonymus cultivar Luna, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Putten, The Netherlands, plants of the new Euonymusdiffered from plants of the cultivar Luna in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euonymus grew slower than plants of the        cultivar Luna.    -   2. Plants of the new Euonymus had shorter internodes than plants        of the cultivar Luna.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Euonymus had larger areas of        yellow-coloration than leaves of plants of the cultivar Luna.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Euonymus. The photograph comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Goldbolwi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants shown in the aforementioned photograph and used in the followingdescription were grown in containers under conditions which closelyapproximate commercial production conditions in a glass-coveredgreenhouse in Putten, The Netherlands. Plants in the photograph andthose used for the description were about 1.5 years old when thephotographs and description were taken. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 0 to 32° C. and night temperaturesranged from 0 to 18° C. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euonymus japonicus cultivar Goldbolwi.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Euonymus    japonicus cultivar China Gold, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate rooting, summer.—About 25 days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate rooting, winter.—About 35 days at 13° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 75 days            at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 140 days            at 13° C.        -   Root description.—Thick; creamy white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial. Compact and upright plant            habit. Freely basal branching habit; about seven branches            per plant with short internodes; dense and bushy plant            habit.        -   Growth rate.—Relatively slow-growing; plants grow about 15            to 20 cm per year.        -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 21 cm.        -   Branch description.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Internode length: About 8 to 12 mm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 6B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:            About 3.9 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Central area, 6B;            towards the margin, 143A. Developing foliage, lower surface:            Central area, 10C; towards the margin, 138A. Fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: Central area, 6B; towards the            margin, 139A; venation, similar to lamina. Fully expanded            foliage, lower surface: Central area, 10C; towards the            margin, 146A; venation, similar to lamina. Petiole length:            About 6 mm. Petiole diameter: About 1.5 mm. Petiole texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color,            upper and lower surfaces: 6B.-   Flower description: Flower development on plants of the new Euonymus    has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Euonymus have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Euonymus.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Euonymus have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from −5 to of 30° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Euonymus plant named ‘Goldbolwi’, asillustrated and described.